LOGINLogan POVThe first thing I heard when I woke up was Marco pounding on my bedroom door like the house was on fire.I didn’t even open my eyes.I just laid there staring at the ceiling, debating whether prison would be worth it.“Rise and shine, Lover Boy!”I pulled a pillow over my face.“Go away.”“No can do.”The pounding got louder.“Harper texted me.”I sat up immediately.There was a pause on the other side of the door.Then Marco laughed.The idiot actually laughed.“Wow. That worked way better than I thought it would.”I grabbed the closest thing within reach and launched it at the door.Unfortunately, it was a hoodie.The hoodie bounced off harmlessly.Marco laughed harder.“I hate you.”“Love you too, Captain.”His footsteps disappeared down the hallway.I checked my phone anyway.No text from Harper.Traitor.A smile still pulled at the corner of my mouth.The kind that seemed to happen a lot lately whenever I thought about her.I fell back against my pillow and stared at th
Harper POVI was starting to think the hockey team shared a single brain cell.And somehow Marco kept borrowing it.“Hey, Jersey Girl.”I sighed dramatically from my spot on the couch.“There is absolutely no chance that nickname is dying, is there?”“Nope.”“Wonderful.”Marco grinned.Across the room, Logan was stretched out in a recliner looking entirely too comfortable in sweatpants and a Titans hoodie.The Ice House was somehow exactly what I expected and completely different at the same time.I’d expected chaos.There was definitely chaos.What I hadn’t expected was how comfortable it felt.Or how quickly the guys had stopped treating me like an outsider.Marco pointed at me.“You should hear what we call Logan.”Logan looked up immediately.“No.”Marco ignored him.“Captain Mood Swing.”The room exploded with laughter.I laughed too.Hard.Mostly because Logan immediately dropped his head back against the chair.“I hate all of you.”“No you don’t,” Corey said.“You’re right. I h
Harper POVI should’ve known this was a terrible idea.The first clue?Logan looked entirely too amused when I asked where we were going.The second clue?He refused to answer.The third clue?The giant hockey house currently sitting in front of me.“Absolutely not.”Logan laughs immediately.“It’s not that bad.”I stare at the Ice House.Then at him.Then back at the Ice House.“It literally looks like poor decisions happen there professionally.”“It does.”“Logan.”“Harper.”I narrow my eyes.He grins.The worst part?He’s handsome when he grins.It’s deeply unfair.“I hate that you’re cute.”His smile gets bigger.“I love that you think I’m cute.”“I didn’t say—”“You literally just did.”Traitorous mouth.I should’ve left it at the diner.Should’ve gone home.Should’ve made better life choices.Instead I’m standing outside the Ice House wearing his hoodie because the temperature dropped after sunset and Logan insisted I was freezing.For the record?I was freezing.But that’s not
Harper POVBy the time Logan gets me away from the arena, my cheeks hurt from smiling.Which is honestly embarrassing.Because I am a grown woman.An intelligent woman.A future medical professional.And apparently all it takes to turn me into a complete idiot is a hockey player holding my hand.Pathetic.Absolutely pathetic.Logan squeezes my hand lightly as we walk through campus.The cold fall air brushes against my cheeks while students move around us.Some recognize him.Some recognize us.A few definitely stare.And for the first time?Neither of us lets go.That realization hits me unexpectedly hard.Because weeks ago we would’ve.Or I would’ve.Pulled away.Hidden.Made ourselves smaller.Now?Logan’s fingers stay tangled with mine like he doesn’t even notice people looking anymore.Or maybe he notices and just doesn’t care.Honestly?That’s kind of attractive.Which feels unfair.Everything about this man feels unfair.“You’ve been staring at me for thirty seconds.”I immedia
Logan POVThe second the final buzzer sounds, I know I’m screwed.Not because of the game.Not because of scouts.Not because Coach is already yelling about defensive discipline even though we just won by three goals.No.I’m screwed because Marco saw Harper wearing my jersey.And Marco has the emotional maturity of a raccoon with access to energy drinks.The arena explodes around us.Fans are screaming, sticks are tapping against the ice, my teammates are piling into each other like we just won a championship instead of a regular season game. The energy is insane. Loud. Electric. Everything I used to love about nights like this.And tonight?I actually feel it again.Not the angry, hollow kind of focus I’ve been running on lately.Real adrenaline.Real pride.Real happiness.I skate toward the boards, breathing hard, sweat dripping down the back of my neck. Cole bumps his shoulder into mine as we make our way toward the tunnel.“Good game,” he says.I glance over at him.“You sound s
Harper POVThe second Logan disappears back toward the locker room—Reality crashes into me hard.Because people are staring.Not subtly either.Actually staring.Whispering.Phones out.Oh my God.“Oh my GOD.”I cover my face instantly while heat floods into my cheeks.Lila, who appeared halfway through the kiss like the world’s most emotionally invasive ninja, grabs both my shoulders dramatically.“No. No hiding. We honor this moment.”“I hate you.”“You just had a public hockey romance kiss in front of half the student section.”“I KNOW.”“And then he called you ‘my girl.’”I physically groan.Because hearing it out loud somehow makes it worse.Or better.Definitely worse.Possibly better.Dangerously better.Lila starts fanning herself dramatically.“The development from fake PR date to emotional support power couple needs to be studied.”“We are not a power couple.”A guy walking past immediately says:“You kinda are.”I want the floor to open and consume me whole.Lila points at
Harper POVThe truck idles in front of the house.Neither of us moves.The engine hum fills the silence, low and steady, like it’s trying to give us time we didn’t ask for but somehow need. The porch light is on, warm and familiar, the sorority house standing there like a checkpoint between this mo
Logan POVHarper looks at me like I just said something in another language.Not angry.Not judging.Just… baffled.“Logan,” she says slowly, “did you forget something?”My chest is still tight. My head still full of static.“Forget what?” I ask.She studies my face for a long second, like she’s de
Logan POVI stare at my closet like it’s going to judge me.Which is stupid.It’s a closet.But somehow it feels like it’s already disappointed in me.I tug a shirt off a hanger, hold it up, then immediately put it back.Too much.I grab another one.Too little.I’m halfway through a third option w
Logan POVI don’t decide to go to Harper’s.I just… stop not going.I’m sitting on my bed at the Ice House, phone in my hand, staring at her name like it might start blinking if I wait long enough.It doesn’t.Nothing does.No sign from the universe. No sudden clarity. No perfect moment.Just the s







